Whether you're still in control or you're struggling, you might be wondering how to make your debts easier to manage. Here are a few tips that could help you.

Know your debts

To stay on top of your debts, it's important to know how much you owe, who you owe it to, and how much you need to pay each month. It can also be very helpful to know the rates of interest too - so you'll know which debts will grow the fastest. If you don't know how much you owe, contact your lenders and ask.

Know how much you can afford

If you know how much money you have left over each month after you've taken care of your essential costs, you can see how much you can afford to pay towards your debts. If you don't know how to draw up a budget, or you need some help, click here for a budgeting guide.

Pay your bills on time

If you miss any payments you may have to pay late fees - and if you do it repeatedly your credit rating could be damaged. If it helps you, draw up a calendar that says which payment is due on which day - and how much you have to pay.

Try to pay more than the minimum payments

Your lenders will expect you to keep making the minimum payments each month, and if you don't you might end up sliding further into debt. If you can afford to pay more than the minimum payment, however, it's recommended that you do so. It would mean that your debts are paid off quicker - and you'll pay less in interest in the long run.

Which debts should you pay first?

That depends on how motivated you are to pay them. If you're good at motivating yourself to pay your debts - or even overpay them - it's usually sensible to focus the debts with the highest interest rates first, as this will cost you less in the long run.

Some people, however, find it hard to keep chipping away at several debts at once without seeing any tangible 'results'. That's why some people prefer the debt snowball method, where the smallest debt is repaid first. When a whole debt is cleared, it can give you a great sense of satisfaction - encouraging you to continue repaying your debts.

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Your payments into a Debt Management Plan are protected and compensation could be available from the FSCS if there are any shortfalls in funds held on a customer's behalf.

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